Puzzle.



No. 889,314. V PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

G. S. L. KENNEDY.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION IILED JAN. 8, 1907.

THE "cums PE1ERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

vPUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed. January 2, 1907. Serial No. 350,365.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES S. L. KEN- NEDY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at North Easton, county of Bristol, and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Puzzles, of which thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to puzzles and has for its object to provide anovel puzzle which requires considerable skill and a steady hand toeffect its solution.

It relates especially to that class of puzzles in which one or morerolling objects are employed, and the solution of which consists inmanipulating the device so as to cause the objects to land in the seatsor pockets prepared for them.

I will first describe one embodiment of my invention and then point outthe novel features thereof in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved device; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection thereof showing one of the balls in its seat; Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section on the line :c-:::, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a viewof the teeter; Fig. 5 is a view showing the manner of manipulating thedevice to solve the uzzle.

The balls or other rolling objects are shown at 3, there being two inthis embodiment of my invention, and they are contained within a casing4 which may be of any usual or suitable shape, but which will preferablybe cylindrical in shape. This casing is a closed casing so that theballs are confined therein.

Pivotally mounted within the casing is a teeter 5 which has formed ineach end thereof a seat 6 for receiving one of the balls. The teeter ispreferably centrally balanced so that it is free to teeter about itspivot, and the puzzle is solved when the two balls are properly located,one in each of the seats 6. The teeter may be pivotally mounted withinthe casing in various ways without departing from the invention. Wherethe casing is cylindrical, as herein shown, one way is to secure withinthe casing a supporting band 7 which has apertures 0r hearings toreceive the trunnions 8 formed on the teeter, said supporting band beingheld in place in the ,casing in any suitable way as by means of somecementitious substance or by friction. It will be understood, however,that the manner of mounting the teeter within the The width of theteeter is such relative to the diameter of the casing 4 that the s acebetween the side edges of the teeter an the casing is less than thediameter of the ball, and as a result the balls can pass from one end tothe other of the casing only by rolling under or over the teeter.

In the present form of the invention the best way to solve the puzzle isto tip the casing 4 so that the balls will roll down to one end thereof,and then by manipulation to bring the teeter into the position shown inFig; 1. By shaking or jarring the casing when the balls are in thisposition, one or the other of the balls can be lodged in the seat 6 atthe lower end of the teeter. The other ball should at this time besituated on the teeter above the ball which is lodged in the seat, andby tipping the casing into the position shown in Fig. 5 this other ballcan be rolled toward the opposite end of the teeter. The skill requiredin solving the puzzle comes in manipulating the casing at this time soas to cause said other ball to drop into the seat 6 at the opposite endof the teeter without rolling clear off from the teeter. Owing to thefact that the diameter of each ball is greater than the space betweenthe sides of the teeter and the sides of the casingit will not bepossible for the ball to roll off the side of the easing while it isbeing rolled up the teeter, as shown in Fig. 5. Moreover, after the ballhas rolled past the center of the teeter it comes into contact with theupper surface of the casing and when the casing is round or the uppersurface of the casing is curved the shape of the casing tends to holdsaid second ball 3 in the center of the teeter, and the weight of thealready-seated ball 3 is sufficient to hold the second ball 3 againstthe casing with sufiicient friction so that by arring the casingslightly said second ball 3 can be gradually rolled along the teeter andinto the pocket 6.

In order that the operator may see clearly what is going on it ispreferable to have the casing 4 made entirely of some transparentmaterial, such as glass, although if the casing were in boX form itmight be sufficient to have the top only thereof of transparent material. The form of the invention herein shown is such that the teeter 5and the supporting band 7 can be stamped out of sheet metal and thecasing may be simply a glass I sides of the casing being less than thediameter of the balls, and the distance between the pivotal point of theteeter and the top of the casing being only a little greater than thediameter of the balls whereby when the teeter is in inclined position aball on the upper end thereof has engagement with the top of the casing.

2. In a puzzle the combination with a casing having a concaved upperside, of a teeter extending longitudinally of the casing pivotallymounted therein and provided at each end with a seat, and two ballswithin the casin 3. In a puzzle the combination with a casing circularin cross section, of a teeter extending longitudinally of said casing,pivotally mounted therein and having seats thereon, and a plurality ofballs loosely confined within the casing.

4. In a puzzle, the combination with a casing circular in cross section,of a band secured to the inner wall of the casing, a teeter eX- tendinglongitudinally of the casing and pivotally supported by said band, saidteeter having seats therein and a plurality of balls loosely confinedwithin the casing.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES S. L. KENNEDY.

Witnesses:

LoUIs 0. SMITH, MARGARET A. DUNN.

